Improvement in connecting-links  for whiffletrees



G. W. MARTIN. Connecting Links for Whiffletrees, &0.

No. 195,940. Patented Oct. 9, 1877.

INVENTUH 1 ATT IN f- N-FETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. MARTIN, OF PORT HUDSON, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONNECTING-LINKS FORWHIFFLETREES, 80C.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,940, dated October 9, 1877; application filed July 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILKENS MABTIN,. a resident of the town of Port Hudson, parish of East Baton Rouge, and State of Louisiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Connectin g-Links and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and correct description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the production of a connecting-link which is designed for the supersedure of ordinary lap and spring rings, both of which are found obj ectionablethe former by reason of a hammer and chisel being requisite for its detachment, and the latter because of the liability of its spring being broken, particularly in cold weather, by a sudden jar, or by the weight of the whiffletree or other device being accidentally thrown against it.

The simplicity in construction, cheapness, and durability of my invention will be readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, whereom- Figure 1 represents a link provided with an open side and sleeve, the latter slipped back, so as to exhibit the former. Fig. 2 represents the link with its open side closed by its sleeve. Fig. 3 is a sleeve of modified form and Fig. 4 shows that the opening in the link may be closed by a cylindrical sleeve operating on a screw-thread cut on one end of the said link.

In the construction of my device a piece of round iron is first cut to the requisite length for forming a link of the size required. Near its ends are raised, by pinching or otherwise, check-pins ea or, in lieu of pins, a screwthread, I), may be cut at one of its ends.

0 is a sleeve, one side of which is provided throughout its whole length with a groove or channel, 0, the width and depth of which is slightly greater than that of the pins, in order that it maybefreely moved back and forth over the same. If, however, the pins on the link are dispensed with, then the sleeve should be made cylindrical in form, with an interior screw corresponding to that made at the end of the rod.

The link is next completed by bending its ends back, so that the said ends may be brought diametrically opposite one another, yet leaving sufficient space between each for the admission of a ring, link, or whatever else is to be connected therewith.

When the desired connection is made the aforesaid opening is closed by turning the sleeve so as to bring its grooved side on a line with the check-pins, and by then sliding it forward until the pin on the opposite side of the opening is reached, when it is secured by turn ing the grooved side downward out of the line of the pins, in which position, by reason of the grooved side being the heaviest, it will remain.

The open side of the link may be somewhat strengthened by making the grooved sleeve longer than that above indicated, and by cut ting slots (1 c in its sides for engaging the check-pins, thereby preventing the link from s )reading when any strain is brought to bear pon it.

If, in lieu of the pins, one end of the link is threaded, its open space may be closed by simply rotating or screwing the sleeve until one end of it has reached the opposite end of the link and obtained a bearing thereon.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The connecting-link herein described, con sisting of the link proper, provided with studs a a, and the grooved sleeve 0, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

Gr. W. MARTIN.

In presence of- R. T. YOUNG, H. U. YOUNG. 

